Field goal game toy

ABSTRACT

A game toy comprises a game board representing at least a portion of a football field, and having goalposts located near the end thereof, a kicker having a spring-operated leg, a football-shaped ball, a tee for holding the ball in an elevated position in front of the spring-operated leg, and random selected devices for determining the play of the game.

United States Patent {WI Conti i 1 FIELD GOAL GAME TOY {76] inventor:

{221 Filed: Mar. 2]. 1974 [211 App]. No: 453.287

[52] LLS. Cl 273/94 R; 134/36; 273/lt1l {5 I] lnt. Cl. A63f 7/10 [58]Field of Search ..4f1/l28;273/85 E. 85 F, 273/94 R. 94 E. 94 F. 101

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 593,512 ll/l897 Cuhalzmc273/94 R 1.145.955 7/l9l5 Wittstcin 273/94 R 1954.838 4/1934 Woolscy etul. 273/94 R June 10, 1975 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS (141.5048/1950 United Kingdom 273/lUl Primary E.ruI1iiiierRichurd C. PinkhzimANN-KIN!!! Etanimer-Harry G. Strappello 4110mm. Agent. or FirmEdwurd J.Quirk {57] ABSTRACT A game toy comprises a game board representing atleast a portion of a football field, and having goalposts located nearthe end thereof. a kicker having a spring operated leg, atfootball-shaped ball. a tee for holding the ball in an elevated positionin front of the springoperated leg. and random selected devices fordetermining the play of the game.

4 Claims. 2 Drawing Figures 1 item PATENTEUJUH 10 I975 SHEU FIGURE 2.

FIELD (J'UAL \Mli TOY BACKGROUND ()I- l'I-Il: INVFN'I'ION Football asplayed in the Inited States has been a! highly popular spectator sportfor many years. and as such has fathered the development of a largenumber and variety of toy games based on football Some of these gamesinvolve miniature players who actually move. such as the game hereplayers having magnetic bases move around on a vibrating metal surfacerepresenting the field. Se\cral of the games allow each opposing playerto select an offensive play with the success of each play depending onthe luck and skill of the opponent in selecting an appropriate defensneplay or alignment; an example of this type of game is Photo electricFootball. \vhere offensive and defensive charts are placed on top ofeach other and illuminated to see if a defensive player blocks the pathoftravel ofthe ball (as shown on the offensive chart). Another exampleis Talking Football. wherein an offensive play and defcn sive formationare selected. and the result is determined and announced by prerecordedaudio playback devices.

An important part of football is the field goal. A field goal. whichcounts three points. is scored when the of fensivc team kicks the hallfrom the ground between two upwardly extending bars known as thegoalposts. With the increasing strength and accuracy of kickers inrecent years. the field goal has become a potent offensive weapon. andhas been responsible for some of the most exciting and important momentsin collegiate and professional football.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a game for appeal topeople of all ages wherein each player scores points by operating amechanical kicker to kick a ball through goalposts located at a distancefrom the kicker.

It is a further object of the invention to enable game players toutilize their skills in properly placing a ball with respect to thekicker's leg. and to properly adjust the tension in the kicking leg. andto aim the kicker, in an attempt to score points.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A football game toy comprises a toy kickerhaving a spring-actuated leg which can kick a football-shaped ball fromvarious locations on a game board through goalposts located at one endof the board. The skill of the player in placing the ball in the ballholder. locating the ball holder properly with respect to the leg.adjusting the kicking force, and aiming the kicker toward the goalpostswill determine if the flight of the ball passes into the goal-scoringarea. The play of the game is determined by one or more random selectiondevices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I illustrates the game hoardlayout and shows the kicker in the act of kicking a field goal.

FIG. 2 is a detailed drawing ofthe mechanical kicker and ball-holdingdevice.

DETAILED DESL'RIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. I. game board Iis laid out as a rep lica of a football field. having end-lone section 2and laterally displaced lines 3 illustrating yard line markers. Thelines labelled (i. It). Zll. 3U. 40. and SI) correspond to these yardlines on a football field. The drawing (ill shows only the equhalent ofone-halfof a football field. since 50 yards is normally a maximum fieldgoal range. however. more or less of the field can be represented ifdesired. The game board is collapsible. and can be folded into sectionsalong the It). 30, and 50 yard lines; the separations of these sectionsare shown at locations 4. 5. and 6. Cross-marks on the yard lines.illustrated at 7. 8. and 9. represent bash-marks on a football field.and are used to locate the kicker on the left. center. or right of thefield respectively.

Backboard 10 is located at the end-zone end of the field. Scoringdevices II and 12 for each team and re' ccptacle area 13 for goalscoring are located in the backboard. The scoring devices may simplyconsist of rotatable discs having numbers 0-9 which may be turned aftereach score to record the total team points. In order for a field goal tobe scored. the ball must pass through goalposts 14 above cross bar 15and into the receptacle area. The receptacle area has a net backing (notshown) to catch the ball 16; after landing in the net. the ball falls tothe bottom of the net and is retrieved through portal I7. Although inthe actual game of football the height at which the ball passes over thecrossbar is immaterial. the game of the invention is more fun andrequires more skill ifthc ball is required to enter an actual definedgoal scoring area. In addition. the requirement that the ball actuallyenter receptacle l3 eliminates any doubt as to whether or not a hallactually went between the goalposts.

Backboard I0 is removably mounted on gameboard I. and can be folded atsections 18 and 19 for ease of storage and packaging. The backboard maybe mounted by any means. such as pegs or slots. and may be made from anysuitable material. such as cardboard. plastic. or metal. The goalpostsand cross-bar may be mounted in the end zone. such as by pegs inreceiving holes in the game board. or may be integral with thebackboard. either being painted on or otherwise affixed to the backboardaround the outer edges of receptacle 13.

Spinners 20, 21, and 22 are located at the back of the game board.Spinner 2] is the selection device which determines the play of thegame, and the area is divided into sections representing locations fromwhich the ball can be kicked. The areas may be labeled 10R. 10C. and10L, for example. denoting IO yard line. right hash mark," 10 yard line.center hash mark." and 10 yard line. left hash mark respectively.Similarly labeled areas are provided on the game play spinner 20 foreach yard line shown on the game board. In addition to areas indicatingthe yard line locations. the spinner has areas labeled toucbdown.*fumblc." and interception."

Spinners 2i and 22 are respectively the offense and defense spinners.The offense spinner is used after a fieldgoal has been unsuccessfullyattempted and is used to determine ifa penalty should be assessedagainst the defense. thereby giving the offense another opportunity toscore. The area of the spinner is divided into sections labeled nopenalty." offside 5 yards. roughing the kicker 15 yards." and personalfoul 15 yards." In the event that the point of the offense spinner indicatcs a penalty. the kicker is moved forward the appropriate yardagefrom the last penalty and the kick is tried again. The defense spinner22 is used after a field goal has been successfully made by the offense.The area of the spinner is divided into sections labeled "kick good.Offside 5 yards." Holding l5 yards." Illegal Motion yards." and"Personal foul l5 yards." in the event that the point of the defensespinnet indicates a penalty against the offense. the kicker is movedaway from the goalposts the appropriate number of yards. and the kick isretried.

While FlG. shows the spinners to be integral with the game board. thespinner can be separate from the board and thereby movable. such thatthe players can pass the spinners back and forth While spinners are asimple. inexpensive selection device. any random selection device may beused. For example. appropriately marked dice. spring or battery operatedspinning wheels analagous to slot machines. or even recorded talkingdevices may be used. Cards. such as the Chance cards in Monopoly. havebeen used to replace the offense and defense spinners. In this case. thecards are shuffled and placed face downward on the board. and the topcard is picked up from the appropriate pile after each kick. It isdesirable to arrange the probabilities of penalties on the offense anddefense selection devices to occur about percent of the time.

Pegboards 23 and 24 at each side of the back of the game board are usedto keep track of the progress of the game. Each time one team completeone play. which consists of at least one spin of the game play spinner.the offensive team moves its peg 25 or 26 forward one notch. After eachplayer's peg reaches the last or sixteenth notch. the game is over.

FIG. 2 is a detailed drawing of the mechanical kicker. Kicker 27 hasleft foot 28 fixably mounted on base 41. which can be moved to anyposition on the game board. The base may be held in place at theappropriate location on the board either by a magnet tif the base ismade from or covered with a ferrous metal). with a suction cup. by a pegwhich can fit into a receiving hole in the board. or any other means.The base contains ball holding device 29. commonly known as a tee,"which is slidably mounted in front of the kickers kicking foot 31. Theball 16 shown in phantom. is placed in the tee after the kickcrs leg iscocked. and the tee is adjusted by sliding along track 30 to generatethe proper elcva tion on the ball during its flight toward the goal. Byadjusting the tee. and the angle at which the ball is set in the tee.different flight patterns can be produced.

The kickers leg 34 is spring-operated and is shown in its inactiveposition after the kick has been made. The leg is cocked by manuallypulling it back toward the base to its lower or active position. shownin phantom in FIG. 2. The leg is locked in the cocked position byengaging the ridges 33 on the bottom of the kicking foot 31 with theridges 32 on the locking mechanism 35 of the trigger 36. When it isdesired to have the kicker kick the ball. the trigger button 36 isdepressed.

thereby operating through linkage 37 to disengage the two sets of ridges32 and 33. Spring 38, shown in the cutaway portion of the kicker's hip.urges the leg toward its upright position. The spring. which is coiledaround pin 39, has one end 40 which is fixed to the thigh portion of theleg. as shown in the cutaway portion of the drawing. provides the forceto swing the leg to its upright. inactive position.

The tension in spring 38 increases as the kicking leg is drawn back tothe cocked position. The tension in the spring in the cocked positioncan be adjusted by how far the leg is brought back before it is lockedinto position. For example. if the rear ridges 33 toward the heel of thekicking foot are engaged with the forward ridges 32 on the lockingmechanism. the spring will be under relatively slight tension and ashort kick will result. If however the ridges on the toe end ofthekicking foot are engaged with the rear ridges of the locking mechanism.a relatively high spring tension results. and a long kick will beproduced. With practice. a player will be able to adjust the springtension, tee placement. and tilt of the ball in the tee to produce thekick required to score from each location on the field.

While the drawing illustrates one method ofadjusting the tension in thekickers leg. it is not necessary that the tension be adjustable. A fixedtension will require more accurate positioning of the ball on the tee.however. Many other methods of adjusting the tension are possible. suchas levers or screw type devices which can increase the tension on thespring. These modifications will be obvious to one skilled in the art.

Although the description and drawing of the kicker indicate aspring-operated kicking leg. in its broad aspect the game contemplatesthe use of any type of mechanism. whether mechanical or electrical.which can move the leg to the ball with sufficient momentum to propelthe ball toward the goal.

The play of the game is as follows. A coin is tossed to start the game.and the winning player becomes the offensive team. The loser becomes thedefensive team. The offensive team then operates the Game Play spinnerto determine where to place the kicker. lfthc spin ner reads Fumble orlnterception." the offensive team loses possession of the ball to thedefensive team. and the peg marker of the offensive team is moved aheadone play. If the spinner reads Touchdown." the offensive team scores sixpoints and is entitled to attempt an extra point" from the center markon the 10 yard line. If the Game Play spinner reads a field location,such as 30R indicating the right hash mark on the 30 yard line, theoffensive player moves the kicker to the proper location and attempts afield goal.

If the field goal attempt is successful. the defensive player operatesthe Defense spinner. If the spinner reads kick good," the offensive teamadds three points to its score. moves its peg ahead one notch. and thedefensive team takes over the ball. lf the spinner indicates a penalty.the offensive team must move the ball back from the point of theprevious kick by the amount of the penalty and try again. After thesecond attempt. the defense takes over as the offensive team. If thefirst field goal attempt is unsuccessful. the offensive team operatesthe offense spinner and follows the resulting instruction. If a secondattempt is allowed. the defense team takes over after the secondattempt. The scores are recorded on the scoreboard. and at the end ofthe game the highest scoring team is the winner.

It is understood that while one specific embodiment of the game has beendescribed here in detail. many variations are possible on the play ofthe game and construction and operation of the kicker within the overallconcept of the invention. which in essence comprises a game consistingessentially of field goal kicking with a mechanical kicker.

I claim:

I. A game comprising a game board. a single goal scoring area located atone end of and elevated from said game board. said goal-scoring areaconsisting of a single pair of goalposts having a defined rectangularreceptacie thereabove and therebetween for scoring, a

ball, a to kicker having a nioxablc leg. said kicker being movable to aplurality of locations on said game hoard. means for holding the ball infront of the springoperatcd leg. means associated with said movable legfor urging said leg toward the ball such that the leg can propel thehall toward the goal-scoring area. first selection means for determiningthe placement of the kicker on the game board. and second selectionmeans for use after an attempted kick to determine if the kick must heretried.

2. The game ot'claim 1 wherein the force with which the kicker's legstrikes the ball is adjustable. thereby controlling the distance whichthe ball travels after impact.

(all

3. The game of claim I wherein the means for holding the ball isadjustably attached to the base such that the distance from the kickersspring-operated leg and the holding means is variable.

4. The game ofclaim I wherein the second selection means is used by theplayer representing the kicking team after an unsuccessful kickingattempt to determine if a penalty should be assessed against the defensire team and the kick retried. the game also comprising a thirdselection means for use by the player representing the defensive teamafter a successful kicking attempt to determine if a penalty should beassessed against the offensive team and the kick retried

1. A game comprising a game board, a single goal scoring area located atone end of and elevated from said game board, said goal-scoring areaconsisting of a single pair of goalposts having a defined rectangularreceptacle thereabove and therebetween for scoring, a ball, a toy kickerhaving a movable leg, said kicker being movable to a plurality oflocations on said game board, means for holding the ball in front of thespring-operated leg, means associated with said movable leg for urgingsaid leg toward the ball such that the leg can propel the ball towardthe goalscoring area, first selection means for determining theplacement of the kicker on the game board, and second selection meansfor use after an attempted kick to determine if the kick must beretried.
 2. The game of claim 1 wherein the force with which thekicker''s leg strikes the ball is adjustable, thereby controlling thedistance which the ball travels after impact.
 3. The game of claim 1wherein the means for holding the ball is adjustably attached to thebase such that the distance from the kicker''s spring-operated leg andthe holding means is variable.
 4. The game of claim 1 wherein the secondselection means is used by the player representing the kicking teamafter an unsuccessful kicking attempt to determine if a penalty shouldbe assessed against the defensive team and the kick retried, the gamealso comprising a third selection means for use by the playerrepresenting the defensive team after a successful kicking attempt todetermine if a penalty should be assessed against the offensive team andthe kick retried.